Botanical Index No. 382

Ephedra

ephedra

Medicinal Actions

Analysis pending research update.

Primary Conditions Treated

Asthma Bronchitis Bronchospasm Catarrh Cold Cough Cramp Diarrhea Dyspnea Dysuria Edema Enuresis Exophthalmia Fever Flu Hay Fever Headache Hives Immunodepression Incontinence Inflammation Itch Lethargy Low Blood Pressure Malaria Myalgia Myasthenia Gravis Narcolepsy Nasal Congestion Nephrosis Night Sweats Obesity Osteosis Pain Pertussis Pneumonia Pulmonosis Respirosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Sinusosis Swelling Tracheosis Urticaria Virus Water Retention Diseases of the respiratory tract with mild bronchospasms in adults

General Dosage

2 g/240 ml water providing 15–30 mg ephedrine; herb equivalent to 15–30 mg total alkaloid, calculated as ephedrine; 2–4 tbsp fresh herb; 3–6 g dry herb; 4.5 g dry herb:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water; 1–4 g herb/cup water, to 3 ×/day; 15–30 mg total alkaloid per dose, to 120 mg/day; child’s single dose 0.5 mg/kg; 1–4 g powdered stem; 1–3 ml liquid extract; 1–4 ml tincture 3 ×/day. Surprisingly, as the FDA considers withdrawing ephedra, Commission E approved ma huang for, “Diseases of the respiratory tract with mild bronchospasms in adults,” single dosages of herb equivalent to 15–30 mg total alkaloid, not to exceed 300 mg alkaloid a day, and children over age six years, 0.5 mg total alkaloid/kg body weight). “Over-the-counter drugs containing ephedrine can be safely used by adults at a dose of 12.5–25 mg every four hours. Adults should take no more than 150 mg every twenty-four hours”. A 60 mg dose of pseudoephedrine every six hours is usually recommended..

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b, 2c, 2d. Contraindicated in anorexia, anxiety, bulimia, cerebral perfusion, diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, pheochromocytoma, prostatadenoma, restlessness, and thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid stimulant, not recommended for long-term use. The herb and/or its ephedrine can cause addiction, anxiety, anorexia, cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmia, dizziness, dysuria, flushing, headache, high blood pressure, insomnia, irritability, nausea, nervousness, palpitations, restlessness, tachycardia, uterocontraction, vomiting, and xerostomia. Commission E reports contraindications, adverse effects, and interactions of the major alkaloid, ephedrine. Not to be used for prolonged period. Not to be taken with MAOIs. May potentiate MAOIs. Ephedra-based products should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation, and used with caution in children <6 years old. More than 100 g herb can be lethally toxic in humans. “Over-the-counter drugs containing ephedrine can be safely used by adults at a dose of 12.5–25 mg every four hours. Adults should take no more than 150 mg every twenty-four hours”. A 60 mg dose of pseudoephedrine every six hours is usually recommended.. Ephedrine-containing substances have been listed as addictive by the International Olympic Committee. The LD50 of ephedrine is reported at 500 mg/kg orl man, making it about half as toxic as caffeine.

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